Moonraker by Ian Fleming

As the super patriot and war veteran who’s bankrolling Britain’s top-secret Moonraker rocket program, Sir Hugo Drax should be above reproach. But there’s more to this enigmatic millionaire than he lets on. When M suspects Drax of cheating at cards in an exclusive gentleman’s club, he sends Bond in to investigate. But exposing the deception only enrages Drax—and now 007 must outwit an angry man with the power to loose a nuclear warhead on London.

The mysterious death of the head of security at Drax’s missile base gives Bond the perfect opportunity to go undercover to find out the secret agenda of the supposed British war hero. With the help of another agent, the lustrous Gala Brand, 007 learns the truth about Drax’s battle scars, his wartime allegiances—and his murderous plans for the deployment of Moonraker.

The text in this edition has been restored by the Fleming family company Ian Fleming Publications, to reflect the work as it was originally published.

Born in London in 1908, Ian Fleming worked as a banker and journalist before serving in the British Naval Intelligence during WWII. He published his first novel Casino Royale in 1953 and thus started the astoundingly successful Bond novels and films. Fleming died in 1964.

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Reader reviews & activity

Justin Spradling
16 Jul 2013

Michael Manley
19 Aug 2013

Newman
2 Mar 2014

This was the first James Bond book I have read, and sadly, I have no intention of reading another. Although Ian Fleming manages to build tension and foster a sense of intrigue during the opening ac...

This was the first James Bond book I have read, and sadly, I have no intention of reading another. Although Ian Fleming manages to build tension and foster a sense of intrigue during the opening act (the gambling scene), as the plot progressed, my interest waned. The characters are too obvious (despite the narrative suggesting otherwise), and the plot too contrived.